WHO Chief Gives Helpful Tips

In a video outreach effort, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, shared expert advice on how to avoid contracting COVID-19. Life is changing dramatically, he said. “Most severe situations can be turned around. Taking care of your physical and mental health is important. The experience of countries and cities that have pushed back this virus give hope and courage to the rest of the word. During this difficult time, it’s important to look after your physical and mental health,” he said. Following are some of the precautionary measures he has suggested in the video:

1. Eat a healthy and nutritious diet. That will help your immune system to function properly.

2. Limit your alcohol consumption and avoid sugary drinks.

3. Don’t smoke as that will increase your risk of developing severe disease if you become infected with Covid-19.

4. Exercise. WHO recommends 30 minutes of physical activity a day for adults and 1 hour a day for children. Go outside for a walk if national guidelines allow and keep a safe distance from others. Find an exercise video online, dance to music, yoga, walk up or down the stairs. If you are working from home, make sure you don’t sit on same position for two long. Take a 3-minute break every 30 minutes.

5. Look after your mental health. It’s normal to feel stressed and confused in a crisis. Talking to people can help. Support other people in your community, check on neighbours, family and friends. Avoid too much news if it makes you anxious. Get your information from reliable sources once or twice a day.

In his closing remarks he said: “Covid-19 is taking so much from us, but it’s also giving us something special, the opportunity to come together as humanity, to work together, to learn together, to grow together as humanity.”

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